Sudbury contractor fined in 2011 fatality

The Sudbury-based contractor was working on a $12.7-million four-laning contract to do the eastbound and westbound bridge spans and decks over the Mackenzie River on Highway 11-17, outside Thunder Bay.

Gustavo Argueta, a 24-year-old Terranorth employee was operating a Genie S-65 aerial work platform at the time of the fatality on June 24,2011.

A Ministry of Labour investigation resulted in seven charges being laid against the company under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The company pleaded to guilty to one count with the rest of the charges being dismissed.

Terranorth was found guilty of the offence of failing as an constructor to ensure that the elevated work platform was only used on a firm level surface.

Besides the fine, the company paid a 25 per cent victims surcharge, mandatory under the Provincial Offences Act.